I agree with earthone that having a story to tell with some emotion in it is important for me as well as a songwriter.

I write all the time to keep my songwriting muscles flexed, but the ideas that come to me that grow into my better work, seem to come at me from all angles of life, and there seems to be no way of telling when that will happen.

For me, the skill is in honing your songwriting, so that you can effectively craft a good idea when you do get one.

Dielle